Dirigible lighting apparatus for motor-vehicles.



l. M. CALKINS.

Patented N ov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- TUHNEYS J. M. CALKINS.

DIRIGIBLE LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPucAnou FILED Mov. 7. |911.

1 ,284,874. Patnfed Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTHNEYS JAMES M. CALKINS, 0F DAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

DIRIGIBLE LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed November 7, 1917. Serial No. 200,760.

To fcl 'whom 'it 'may concern:

Bc it known that l, Janus M. CALKlNs, a citizen ol' the llniteil States, and a. rcsidont of Oakland. in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain .new and useful improvements in Dirigible Lighting Apparatus for Motor-Vs hiclcs, of which the following is a Speciication.

My present invention relates generally to the roadway lighting apparatus of motor vehicles. my invention comprehcndiug the provision of a lighting apparatus of this 'nature which may be readily associated with the vehicle steering mechanism so that the llgh will he moved to the right or left. upon the iurning of the front .vlieels of the vc hiclr.. with he object of illuminating the roadway in advance of the machine.

My invention further coniprchends the provision of a lighting apparatus for motor vehicles which may be tilted vertically toward and away from the roadway at any desired angle, with the object of preventing the glare of said light from blinding the view and. endangering the safety of any vehicle or persons traveling in a direction opposite to that of the vehicle having the light, and whcrobv the lighting apparatus may he moved to thc right or left with the light thrown toward the roadway at any desired anglo with respect thereto.

My invention further comprehends the provision of a. lighting apparatus wherein the above movements thereof are controlled at will by the operator of the motor vehicle through mechanisms extending from a point convenient to the operator to the said lighting apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings illustratingvmy invention,

i igure 1 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating my invention in operative relation with a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a diagrammatic nature.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the two lamps with their adjustable connections. d 'Fig 4 is a plan Aview of the operators 1a `i 5 is a sectional view therethrough.

6 is a side view, partly in elcvatlon and partly in section, of one of the lamps und its support.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 6 with the parts in` locked position.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 with the parts in released position.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section taken substantially ou line 10-10 of Fig. 6.

Fig. l1 is a detail fragmentary View illusirating the connection oi certain of the lamp controlling arms.

Fig. l2 is adetail sectional view illustralting the connection of one of the lamps, am

Fig. 13 is a detail horizontal section taken substantially on line 113-13 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to those figures, and p r4 tcnlarly to 1, 2, and G, my inventi n contemplates the provision of a vertical r0- iatahle rofl or post 15 journaled vertice. through an opening in one of the bars forming the chassis of the vehicle in cib nection with which my invention is 'to be utilized, the upper portion of this post above the bar 16 being rotatable in a sleeve 17,

the latter of which is counter-bored at its upper end to receive the enlarged upper4 end of the said post and also provide for the reception of anti-friction balls 30 upon which the said post may under certain conditions rotaie with respect to the sleeve 17, the lat-ter being held stationary.

The lower reduced portion of the sleeve 1T is journaled Within au upright 'tubular bracket 19, the lower iianged end of which rests upon, and is secured t the bar 16 by bolts or other connections 20, as best seen in Fig. 6.

To the lower end of the upright post 15 as most clearly seen in Fig. 1, an arm 21 of any desired shape is secured, and pivotally connected by means of a. connecting rod 22 of Fig 1. 1 and 2, to the steering arm 23 connectin parts of the steering mechanism of the ve icle, so that as the front wheels are shifted to steer the vehicle, similar movement will be imparted through the connecting rod 22 and arm 23 to the post 15, to rotate the tudinal axis.

Inasmuch, however, as motor vehicle nstructons 'vary to s. considerabley extent, it is to be understood at this thtfany latter upon its vertical longh;

suitable connection may be. ii'ovded .'be`-V l Referring again to. Fig. 6,"it will springe: tif.

that the upper eulargcrl portion of the sleeve 17 has a laterally projecting ear to which is intcrnicdiately pivoted a lever 26, they lattcr extending in a vertical direction and lnii'irglj :i lower angular extremity 27 adaptiil to cuter an opening 2S o1 thc tubular bracket 11", in orricr 1o lock the sleeve 17 against rotation.

The upper end of the lever 26 has a laterally projectingJ 'pivoted arm 29, the free ond oi which normally projects within an opening in the upper portion of the sleeve 17 and is movable through the same, into and out of a recess 18 of the post 15, arm 29 being shiftablc inwardly when the angular end 27 of lcvcr is withdrawn so that when the slome 17 is free for rotation, it will be locked in connection with the post 15 and will he rotated by the latter.

Rigidly taste-ned to the. upper end of the sleeve 17 above thel upper enlarged end of the post` lo. is: a liorimntally disposed bracket 32 at the opposite ends of which are vertically projectingl flanges 33 and 34 flirn'iing hearing?. for the opposite ends of a surft 35, one cnil ciVA which latter connccrcd to a, flexible chatting; 36 leading, as best seen in Fig. i. to .-1 point adjacent the driver scat oi' ihr iunior vehicle in connection 1.with which nl r improved lighting ap params is utilized. and to a controlling handle `37 which as liest seen in Fig. is rotatable in respect to a dial plaie 3S anll has a springn controlled plunger 39 arranged to enter the reces Vl() o-l- :in annular series provided in oit-c face oi' the dial 3S. to maintain the controlling .'irm 37 in adjusted position.

The shaft' above referred to, and as liariicularly seen in Fig, 6, is provided with an intermediate 'threaded portion i1 extending: tlo'ouggi a, longiiudiirilly shiftaiile block it?. lust-.recu 1li i and 'the flange 33 at one end oi tvc i i' lret 32. is impressed a. coil disposed around the inner portion nl r .i Inail ZV1. Iiorwardly beyond the threaded pfnion 4l, the shaft 35 is matcrially reduced and provided upon its reduced Vfm'ward 'portion With a series of threads 44, this reduced portion of the shaft extending through a lcingitudinally shiftw able block The sides 46 ot' the bracket 32, as seen in Fins. :l and l0 in particular, form a substantially .rectangular structure which the sides and hase of the blocks 42 and 45 movably inter-lit so as to prevent rotation of these blocks, whose hores are threaded to conform to the threads of thc .shaft portions 41. and 44, block' 4.2 having a rigid arrn47 depending tl'irougrh a longitudinally slotted opening 46 of the bracket 3:; and i'iivotall y connected by a movable pivot 4) -with the upper end of the lever 26 lit-fore described. so that out ward movement of the block 42 t0 the position shown in Fig. 6, will lock the sleeve 17 against rotation and at the same time disconnect the same from the post 15, While inward movement' of block 42 to the position shown in Fig. 8, against the tension of spring 43, will shift the lever 26 and release the sleeve 17 from the tubular bracket 19, at the same time coupling the sleeve with the post 15.

seen particularly in Figs. 9 and 10, the upper portions of the blocks 42 and 45 have laterally projecting rigid arms 50 and 51, respectively, entering the longitudinal slots 52 and 53 of a. pair of rocking levers 54 and These levers are respectively pivoted at56 and 57 to one side 46 of the bracket 32, and the outer end of the lever 35 is engaged by the upper end of a spring 58, the lower end of which is attached to a pin 5S) extending from the bracket 32, as seen in Fig. 10. lo normally thrust the inner end of the lever upwardly.

The outer end of the lever 54 has a recess 66 as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, intoI which loosely projects the tapering inner extension 61 of lever 5o, lever 54 having a recess 62 at the lower inner end of its slot 52, and lever 55 ha viner a recess 63 at the outer upper end of its slot 53, the functions of which will be presently described.

vIt is to be understood that the foregoing mechanism including the bracket 32 and its Vseveral parts. is incident to but one lamp 64 oi the pair of lamps 64 and 65, as seen particularly in Fig. 3,l the latter of which may bc mounted in anyn suitable manner and is to be connected to the lamp 64 in such manner as to move simultaneously therewith in the adjustment of the latter, each of these lamps having a rear slotted bracket 66 rigid therewith and pivotally connected to one ind of a lamp connecting` arm 67 extending therebetween. the. arm preferably havinga series ot' openings adjacent opposite ends es indicated at 68 in Fig. 3, through the various openings of which the pivot pins 69 are adapted to extend so that the lamps may in their normal position extend either in Vparallel or angular planes so as to direct the beams of light therefrom either parallel to one another or in convergent or divergent relation. as desired.

The lamp 64 has side trunnions 70 journaled in the upper hearings of an upright fork 71 of the bracket 32, each trunnioni'() having a depending lug 72 as seen particularly in Fig. 1 2, whose movement is limited Within a` segmental recess 73 of the upper bearing 74 of the fork 71 so that the lamp may thus be tilted vertically to throw its beam at various angles with respect to the roadway surface.

The lamp is. of course,ipounted in a cfr fr l) illu n generally similar marmer so that il may tilt vertically with tho lump 64 through tho oonnrclzing nrnl 6?, nml lha lomp 64 has at its lower forward portion. an arm 75 pivolnlly confronted mi one und thereto and providwl :n its opposite ond u'il'll a bearing 76. :is wm; if Vig. 1l. for ino nml of n link TT haring :n liinirrn nmvnlcnt n liin a 'Sogrnfuitnl rr-4 Cvss 78 of ihr liriiring 7f3, tho appoint@ (unl of link TT lining Jirotafly connurlrd io in@ upper porion of flw lilorlr fr: .Linen in Yigg. r' :md ll).

Thus, boninp in mint? limi; 1in', pivotal ronncrtions oi tlm :mn with in@ iusnp (Si unil with this iink. :or :sniirifnllv tight to proven( vilirzuory .-nownwni 'mi liw lam )s :1nd their :nernlonnl ffifrplfmi muni, it` iF ci rions that wiih ihn puri@ in lim Emili-.ul posi lion shown in Fig. ronlifm of ihn controlling nrnl i? by Ihre oprruior sowrs: lo ro lulu llif, hall 35 wiiirli "will Rilnl'i lilork l2 umlA 45.3 in.v.lrsl :und ii lo in', Ulise'rrrll ilml, in lii inm'rlnrni blink it moros non niflrrnlilj' 'wtrr almn ille lilo ii l5, by rur, of Hw vnlxu'gi-ll lnrwni. M nl' grrnifr VHC-ii vir-xs: lig l"'#-1=l `.l. 'iirf Siri'f'nn Tifrigid .ii'ni al of lfinri L. ri l. ir il; mm1 nel ol www 45. :'irm fail ni ly fix mor-wg |afin imlmf'nhfm if.: mi iffvr ir-i. will sii #luf lail rr limi upm ih guidi Si". vir-1 ning iis inY nur vuil, fnnl {owing- 'm oanrz' rml downnnrllljf wiix'n, in' rirlm oi ill@ inzngfrn'nfn! of tis@ ex'rn-1ion Gl of loror 55 within trovar-1; i.. Will foi-mie ihr: innr'r fin-l if le or Fifi flownn'nrilly :nifl ruine its msm-r un ngninnt lin'A tension of spring i o miauw lnr nr'ln from ihr www moving lor-'Jr 55 to lian posiion nlnnwn in lf'igf. S .'-o hnl rinf- Xiork rif will lr.-y frer for fnownnfni' llirvz-:wimf tin* inilfltil of tlw :int 53. 5.5i ln liioolifr .l; mi

.in fin" inwilfion Sum-vis in Pig. F num-s nyfuinsi iin wrnw@ of" i fini :'ni'l lvlw )5J 'ilfi fnziiiir-f 111 inw. f sf. mi (in rrlniivri @lloran @inf 5.-. oi" im'm fri. :wifi in" n yrvnfffr prod lion ifl'w'i; lin rsiil noon rearh the rrrsfs Si. and will mitm' the inlfor :is it Inovix# ull lln inl'err rnds of fluo ih romls 4L no thn with lille lo'fm 2li in rho position F-liown in Fig. 8, slror@ i7 will im :.rmzplorl. to the por?, 15 nml rvlrusml from tho lul'iulnr bnn-krt 19, and thus pr-rlnit the lumps $4: anni 65 fo rotate non varlirnl axes. sinmlfanaously willi, and tojollow, Sl'lil'liin: movements of tho steering mm'lmniwm of lw` motor rsilaicle.

li will. be observed hnl; during; ibi. time :are in lim pofsilion Shown in Fig'. i will liv Frr *o sniff; inv mili' :mrl :univr nunusnl minimi wif iin op faire :nifl lon-r ilu: if; 'rzznnn as l lin-:i ivm tire' nzwi nro lo be i 5'. 5in i is first fon m ln rnnirnr block. .if miiiiwi @miur lingl arm 37, until it reaches the inner end of thc,- recess 63, upon which spring 58 rocks lovvr whose connection by virtue of exmision G1, with the lover 54, also rocks the lnller so ns to free the arm 50 of the block 42, whirb lnflrr boing urged outwardly by tho Spring 11,3, :1t onru rongnges the flirends l1 nml is sliiflod outwardly with final outn'nril Shifting' movenn-ni; of block 45, lo \,\'itlnlrnw tho :i1-1n Q9 from the'rorosslS of tim post 15 and nl; tho sanno time more the, :angular und .QT oi leverZG into the reross 28 o1' the stationary tubular hrm-liet 19.

Haring thus: described n mnrhanism for Carrying ont the invention, which constitutos Ihr prcfnrrud embodiment. thereof, I wish it to in. nmlerstood, and I believe il is plain, that variom` changes and modifications muy 'ne nnnlcV in the particular details ns (lenrriliwl, withnnl departing from the spirit of iw inwni'ion, und willin ille Scopo and fr: |nroi ilu apprnrlml 'lnims.

l claim:

A. .lirigiblr lig'fliiing :rpynu'nluS or mo` im' frinfsir-s` inrlming :in upright rolutublr inw. i lvm r in viii n @no posi r4 iourimlori .inw un our-ufnnling mito uimlurlrm-lwi Musfii ^lziwf-'HVV norlion 1|!E ilu' door? i5: jonrixnlirl. ininp wpporinr moan@ vnl-riad in' ilnf Aww?. miii :Si vraml mili port` hilv- .ing Uprningn. :l lip-wr lulvrnnncl upon the mill rm'. un :um pix/orally molnitcil on om. will or' tlw will lf'wc zml momhlv into tho omnimfl oi' the Alom@ anal posi In ronncci, tlw lail'rr for`1zin|nllunoous mowmrnt, the apposito cmi of mid lover haring am ang'lr ifm' oxtrrmilr, miil tubular bracket having me ignrluro info which tlm :angular exl'remily o? fnirl iwi-i .is nmmlvlo. means; for roiin imf luf mili gino?. lump supporting means lZ" "rfl iw iin .-:niii drow, 21nd moans for whining [iw anni r-izf-r ro render tlm lamp swrgnwriiizg www uctirr :1n-fl innrliro.

L'. iin fiwii\ii.;ii'iw Tfil n. mOOl 'Vvliialfe lum lng* :a for-rirlfi' fnwffismzln. of :i flirigililu ighing :.qjrmrnns invll'ldng 'nonne-Cited lamps carried by lim s'uliicle. Tortirnl rol'atn ble Supports for the linups, to wliirli the latter nro pivolrd :It tlwir ridrs lo mov( vertirzxli'v wili respect thermo. manual rontrolling nnffms, nonnortions botwern said lmnp mxpporis nml the slooringf mechanism lo more t n former in consonance xi'ith the lull*- er, moans to adjust the lampo upon their nido pivots, means ro renflnr the Suid stoerf direction, means movable to connect the vonnection and also the lamp adjustingr lamps wlth, and d1sconnect the same rom, means.

the said steering mchanism, mans for JAMES M. CALKINS. shifting the lamps vertically upon their piv- Vitnesses:

5 ots, and manual controlling means for actu- ANNA M. SCOTT,

ating the said means controlling the steering A. A. CALKINS. 

